''I'm in Love With Alexey Shor's Lyrical Themes,'' says Edgar Moreau ahead of InClassica 2025 performance at Dubai Opera

Gulf Network

Poised to make a grand comeback on the global classical music stage, the historic InClassica International Music Festival is returning to Dubai for its fifth consecutive year, with its 14th edition featuring a fantastic lineup of artists, orchestras, and memorable performances. The world’s biggest musical observatory will occur from the 6th to the 21st of April, with 2025's special iteration dedicated to the legacy of its acclaimed Composer-in-Residence Alexey Shor.

The maestro's works will play a central role throughout the musical affair courtesy of a series of performances by world-renowned musicians, with no less than 14 acclaimed soloists, five esteemed conductors, and two international orchestras showcasing the best of classical music at the breathtaking Dubai Opera.

Among the highly-anticipated musicians performing at the event is distinguished French cellist Edgar Moreau, making his Dubai debut at the iconic festival. Prizewinner at the 2009 Rostropovich Competition and 2011 Tchaikovsky Competition, the charismatic cello player has a multi-award-winning career under his belt, having performed with the likes of Valery Gergiev, Gidon Kremer, András Schiff, Yuri Bashmet, Krzysztof Penderecki, Gustavo Dudamel etc.

Recipient of many musical awards, the Academie Maurice Ravel Prize 2011, the Banque Populaire Foundation, “Classic Revelation” by France’s Adami, French-Speaking Public Radios Young Musician Prize 2013, and named “New Talent of the Year 2013” and “Instrumental Soloist of the Year 2015” by the French Victoires de la Musique, Moreau regularly performs in prestigious venues, including New York Carnegie Hall, Berlin Philharmonie, Vienna Musikverein and Konzerthaus, Amsterdam Concertgebouw, among others.

Aptly titled 'French Cello Delight', Edgar Moreau's premiere concert at InClassica will take place on April 8, where he will be seen collaborating with Spanish conductor Tomàs Grau and renowned Barcelona-based orchestra, the Franz Schubert Filharmonia. The diverse programme of the musical celebration will feature Ludwig van Beethoven's “Egmont” overture, Op. 84, followed by Alexey Shor’s Cello Concerto No. 3 and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's emotionally charged Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36.

Alexey Shor, InClassica Composer-in-Residence.

Ahead of his debut performance at InClassica 2025, we sat down with Edgar Moreau to discuss his upcoming collaborations, thoughts on resident composer Alexey Shor's contemporary musical style and what he hopes the audience at the Dubai Opera takes away from his passionate concert.

What does it mean to you to perform at the InClassica International Music Festival, and how does its atmosphere compare to other festivals you've attended?

I'm thrilled to be a part of the InClassica International Music Festival, especially as it will be my first time performing in Dubai. When I looked at the musical programme of this terrific affair, I realised that all the major conductors and soloists are coming to this wonderful festival, which made me want to join.

Having played in cities like Sharjah, Abu Dhabi several times, and Al Ain a few years ago, my experiences in the UAE have been amazing, so I look forward to coming to Dubai for the first time and meeting the public there. I'm sure this wonderful festival will become one of the major venues in the world and the most important event in the region.

How do you approach working with new orchestras and conductors to create a cohesive musical experience?

This festival marks many firsts for me, including working with Tomas Grau and the Franz Schubert Filharmonia for the first time. I'm grateful for the opportunity to meet new orchestras, conductors, and musicians and to have the possibility to create something very fresh from the start. I've already experienced that feeling several times, and I look forward to this new collaboration with all these wonderful artists.

What part of your compelling programme at InClassica are you most excited about?

I'm really looking forward to presenting Alexey Shor’s wonderful Cello Concerto No. 3 at InClassica. This summer, I had the pleasure of meeting Alexey Shor in Verbier, Switzerland. I presented his piano trio alongside Daniel Lozakovich and fell deeply in love with his beautiful, lyrical, and rhythmic themes.

I believe Shor is one of the most incredible living composers today. His music is profoundly romantic but, at the same time, very modern. You can sense a lot of different influences and backgrounds in his compositions, which provide the perfect blend of virtuosity, rhythm and, of course, melodies.

Is there a particular sentiment you'd like to leave with the audience at the Dubai Opera after your performance?

I feel fortunate to perform for InClassica audiences, especially after learning about the exceptional acoustics of the venue. I will be bringing my wonderful cello with me, which is more than 300 years old, dating back to 1711.

Playing modern music in such a contemporary hall will create a perfect blend of the past and the present, bringing beautiful sounds and inspiring music come together. I look forward to meeting audiences old and new and can't wait to see you all very soon in Dubai.

For more details about InClassica 2025, visit the festival’s official website here.